Fake news sites dot the landscape on platforms like Facebook and Google. Unfortunately, such sites play a dangerous game of misinformation. They've even proved lucrative for the perpetrators. Facebook and Google recently took efforts to ban fake news sites, though. With these efforts, perhaps the flood of fake news will lessen in a noticeable way.
On social media, fake news rose to popularity with the US election more so than ever before. Such sites found their way into Google search results and Google News. This type of news spreads inaccurate information on purpose rather than pushing a particular opinion or belief.
Google's policies now state that sites cannot misstate or misrepresent information. If a site breaks the policy, then it could lose Google AdSense privileges. Of course, fake news sites depend upon Google AdSense revenue in order to turn a profit from misinformation.
Likewise, Facebook now bans fake news websites from using the Facebook Audience Network. Both Facebook Audience Network and Google AdSense allow content producers to display ads online. When visitors to a website click on these advertisements, the content producer receives a cut of the ad revenue.
By eliminating this stream of revenue, Facebook and Google give fake news sites less incentive to operate. Other steps could be taken to eliminate these types of websites today. Companies could designate fake websites as such in order to keep users away from them. Either way, the benefits of fewer fake news websites speak for themselves.
Facebook needs you to fight fake news